Wa Dining Okan

The Adventure of Mimie & Nick 3 months ago

This is easily one of our absolute favorite spots in San Diego! My wife says the food tastes exactly like traditional Japanese home cooking. Honestly, everything on the menu is incredible, so you truly cannot go wrong. The service is always fast and friendly. We have been coming here regularly for over 12 years, and their quality has never dipped. For lunch, their bento boxes always hit the spot. For dinner, we love ordering a mix of individual dishes and sides to share. We highly recommend this place as an absolute must-try for anyone in the area!

Momo Zhang 4 months ago

This is a low-key long-standing local spot with mostly regulars. Tucked right next to Nijiya Market, it never relies on marketing—only authentic home-style flavors and consistent quality keep customers coming back. It’s a cozy Japanese izakaya with warm yellow lighting, just like a traditional neighborhood pub in Tokyo. Perfect for casual drinks and enjoying a genuine laid-back vibe. I ordered the eel kamameshi, which took about 20 minutes to serve. Their house-marinated eel is incredibly fragrant. The Creamy Mentai Udon is a must-try: rich creamy flavor, savory pollock roe with no fishy taste, and perfectly chewy noodles that are absolutely addictive. Their grilled beef tongue is cooked to perfection—tender, juicy, and well-balanced in salt and sweetness. The teppanyaki is also very flavorful. Price range is mid to high, around $40+ per person. The staff gives off classic old-restaurant regular vibes: efficient and no overly formal small talk. It feels like a neighborhood comfort spot—warm and relaxed without forced hospitality.

Blake Johnston 4 months ago

Overall the food was good and there were definitely some standout dishes, especially the creamy uni udon and the short rib kettle rice with the runny egg. Service was friendly and sitting at the bar made the experience more enjoyable. That said, the price point felt a little high for the overall atmosphere. The decor felt pretty worn down with random elementary school coloring book drawings on the walls. So the ambiance didn’t really match what we were paying for. Still enjoyed the meal, but expected a more polished experience for the cost.

Pin Yeoh (Foodie life) 5 months ago

We were so looking forward to trying out this authentic Japanese restaurant right after arrival in San Diego. The pictures of food look amazing! We also liked the tiny dining setting because it reminded me of Japan. However, it may be because of our taste buds, all the food we ordered not meet our expectations. The 6pc samshi is not worthy for its price. We were not satisfied after the visit. The staff was friendly though!

Kelly Yung 8 months ago

I’ve been missing kamameshi since our visit to Hokkaido and we loved that this place specializes in it. The scallop and mushroom kamameshi did not disappoint. It was so flavorful and fresh that it didn’t even need any additional flavoring or sauce. The soft shell crab was perfectly crisp and went great with the lemon and salt on the side. This is the perfect place if you want a small bite with some drinks or a fun easy dinner. I wouldn’t say it’s great for groups or a fancy night out since it’s more of a casual vibe but definitely nice to check out.